Short answer: As of the latest information, reopening the government requires 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a Republican filibuster and advance a funding bill. Context and what this means now
- In a 100-seat Senate, a simple majority (51 votes) is not enough to advance most funding bills if a minority filibuster is involved. The standard threshold to move past a cloture-level hurdle is 60 votes. If 60 votes are not reached, the measure fails, and the government remains shut. This has been the pattern during the current stalemate.
- There have been multiple short-term funding proposals put forward by House leadership, but each has needed 60 votes in the Senate and has fallen short after Democratic opposition or lack of sufficient cross-party support. The ongoing deadlock means no reopening until a sufficient coalition is formed.
- Some efforts have included proposals to directly pay certain federal workers or provide targeted subsidies, but those measures also required 60 votes to advance and have been blocked in the Senate.
What to watch for next
- Any bill to reopen the government will need to attract at least 60 votes in the Senate, typically requiring several Democrats to support a House-passed funding measure or, less commonly, a bipartisan alternative that can attract enough cross-party support. If 60 votes are not secured, the shutdown continues.
- Leaders may attempt new strategies (temporary funding extensions, different policy concessions, or separate packages) to reach 60 votes, but success hinges on bipartisan agreement. Stay updated on the Senate vote tallies and the specific measure being considered.
Direct answer
- The number of votes needed to reopen the government in the current situation is 60 votes in the Senate to advance a funding measure, due to the filibuster rule. If 60 votes are not achieved, the government remains shut.
